U15 European champions from Scotland - three years running!

Mike Stanger pays tribute to the barnstorming performance of Scotland's U15s in the 2010 European Championship...

The pendulum is swinging! After more years than was comfortable, Scotland's young cricketers are again sweeping all before them - including the Irish, who had been rubbing our noses into our own under-achievements of recent years.

To be truthful, Scotland's U15s have now won the last three European championships on the trot. But none as comprehensively or impressively as this year's boys, inspirationally led by Lyle Hill (pictured right), just two weeks after our U18s had also enjoyed a 100% record in their first-stage U19 World Cup qualifying event (with a deliciously-dished victory over the Irish, needing two off the final ball to give the Scots the start they fully deserved).

Like Arbroath's Calvin Burnett before him, young Hill has been ebullient and determined as captain of this year's U15s. A Clydesdale youngster born and bred, he exudes confidence and has the talent to back it up. Like Greenock's Richie Berrington, he has the skills in all three disciplines to make things happen - and to command the backing of his squad of players.

And that's exactly what was needed to confound the vagaries and interruptions of the weather in Holland over this past week.

Against fancied Jersey on Monday, the Scottish Colts batted first and set out their stall, with Zander Muir of Grange's 71 and Andrew Umeed of West of Scotland's 40 leading the way. The icing on that particular batting cake was Hill's: batting at seven, his 30 came off just 21 balls, propelling the total beyond the 200 mark. Then, using seven bowlers, but not himself, Hill rang the changes, and Jersey were swatted away for just 78.

Scorecard: Scotland v Jersey

With spirits still on a high, the Scots gave Ireland no chance the following day. Having opted to bat first, they were completely crushed, 76 all out, the coup-de-grace delivered by the fourth bowler, Chris Cash of Watsonians, who took 4-16 from the six overs initially permitted to him under the ECB bowlers' limits. Hill gave himself a spell and came up with 2-19 from his six at the other end to close down the Irish innings. The Scots needed less than 17 overs to sew up their second win.

Scorecard: Scotland v Ireland

On Day 3, it was Guernsey's turn to come under the cosh after Hill had won the toss and batted first again. This time, the impressive Grange all-rounder Will Edwards dominated, remaining undefeated on 80* when the innings closed. Omar Afridi helped him add 62 for the fourth wicket, and Hill bashed another 33 off 23 balls to cement the superiority. With rain threatening, Guernsey went out to bat and Clydesdale's Haris Chaudhry immediately put them on the back foot by clean bowling their opener first ball. Chris Cash picked up two more before the rains came, and the match was eventually abandoned, to be replayed from scratch the following day.

Scorecard: Scotland v Guernsey (abandoned)

So Day 4 dawned, and this time Guernsey opted to bat first. Chaudhry again delivered a wicket in his first over, and at the other end Edwards got three, including Guernsey's top scorer, who made 67. Hill dismissed two middle-order batters in one over, and Chaudhry returned to mop up the tail in his second spell, finishing with 4-38. The Scots won with six overs to spare as Edwards led the way with another undefeated 70*, while Umeed stroked six boundaries in his 32. Three wins out of three, all of them comfortable.

Scorecard: Scotland v Guernsey

Any complacency at this stage had clearly been eradicated by coach Craig Wright as Day 5 saw Scotland scythe through the Netherlands batting, with Chaudhry bowling the opener in the third over, Aditya Mehta entering the lists with three top-order wickets and sixth bowler Umeed bowling just 20 balls as he removed the last four batters for no more than five runs. The Dutch total of 80 was surpassed before the end of Scotland's 20th over to take Scotland's run-rate ahead of Ireland's for the first time, thanks to the 25 from 28 balls from Ferguslie's Stuart Darroch.

Scorecard: Scotland v Netherlands

And so to the final day - the sixth consecutive day of cricket for the apparently tireless young Scots. With Ireland breathing down Scottish necks, it was still possible that they might draw level on points and win on run-rate. So Hill won the toss and elected to bat first against Denmark; his batters were instructed to make a mighty total... of course, they delivered, in style. Afridi confirmed his batting credentials with a quickfire 48, and Hill himself ignited the innings with a superb 56, well supported by Ayr wicket-keeper Seb Stewart's 34* from 30 balls and Chris Cash's 28. Scotland's 45-over total: 250-8. Beat that, Ireland! And, when the Danes batted, yet another Scottish bowler came up trumps, this time Uddingston's Gavin Main cleaning up three top-order batters for just four runs to leave them reeling, as Mehta added another three to his tournament tally.

Scorecard: Scotland v Denmark

In the end, the final victory by a margin of 122 runs allowed the Scots to celebrate with their own reel of triumph: six consecutive days of cricket, six days of complete domination to retain their European title for the third year running. Well done to them all, and particularly to their effervescent and determined captain, Lyle Hill.

With kids such as these, and the all-conquering U18s before them, what bright prospects lie ahead for Scottish cricket all the way up the ladder?

Tournament Statistics (including abandoned match):

Highest scores: 1. Will Edwards 80* v Guernsey; 2. Zander Muir 71 v Jersey; Will Edwards 70* v Guernsey; 6. Lyle Hill 56 v Denmark

Top Batting Aggregates: 1. Will Edwards 216 runs @ 71.7; 4. Zander Muir 133 @ 44.3; 5. Lyle Hill 130 @ 32.5; 6. Andrew Umeed 130 @ 32.5

Top Wicket-takers: 2. Chris Cash 9 @ 10.3; 3. Will Edwards 8 @ 6.0; 5. Haris Chaudhry 8 @ 13.3

Best Bowling: 1. Andrew Umeed 4-5 v Netherlands; 2. Chris Cash 4-16 v Ireland; 7. Haris Chaudhry 4-38 v Guernsey; 8. Gavin Main 3-4 v Denmark; 13. Aditya Mehta 3-11 v Netherlands; 15. Will Edwards 3-14 v Guernsey

Player of the Tournament: Will Edwards (Scotland)